5 Easy Ways to Green Your Bathroom

The bathroom is a great place to save water and try sustainable materials—just switching to low-flow showerheads and toilets can cut your water consumption by almost 50 percent. Here are a few more easy ways to make a more eco-friendly restroom.

Put in Wood Floors

Put in Wood Floors

As long as you purchase sustainably harvested varieties, wood can be a wonderful option for a greener bathroom. Before you buy, look for a label stating that the wood has been approved by the Forest Stewardship Council, which means it has been harvested responsibly from trees that aren't endangered and from areas that aren't protected. You can also look for recycled or salvaged wood floors.

Worried about the water factor? If you're installing the floors yourself, add a coat of boat shellac or varnish to the wood for added protection. Alternatively, buy wood floors that have been commercially sealed with a no-VOC eco-friendly water sealer.

Install a High-Tech Toilet

Install a High-Tech Toilet

In addition to features such as temperature control and heated seats, smart toilets allow you to control the amount of water you use to flush. Some even come with a sink on top of the water tank. Clean water flows through the pipes and into the sink. After you wash your hands, the water goes directly into the toilet tank where it can be used to flush, saving thousands of gallons of water a year.